Trevor Sargent
Question:126 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance his views on the latest Quarterly National Household Survey from the Central Statistics Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30960/01]
Written Answers. - National Household Survey.
The Quarterly National Household Survey for June-August 2001 indicated the following: employment increased by 48,700 or 2.8%, unemployment increased by 1,800 to a rate of 4.3%, (not seasonally adjusted), and the labour force increased by 50,500 or 2.8%.
Of the increase in the labour force of 50,500, participation contributed 6,800 while the balance arose from demographic change. While the increase in the labour force of 50,500 was somewhat higher than in the previous 12 months, 45,300, and in comparison with the yearly increase to the previous quarter, March-May 2001, 36,300, the underlying trend is downward, because of a declining birth rate and declining rates of contribution from participation and migration.
Unemployment increased by 1,800 year-on-year to June-August 2001. The annual increase in unemployment of 1,800 reflected an increase of 5,300 in short-term unemployment, while long-term unemployment fell by 3,600. While there was a quarterly increase of 14,100 between the second and third quarters of 2001 which was substantially larger than the increase of 2,800 recorded between the second and third quarters of 2000, this reflected a more rapid increase in the labour force in the period Mar-May 2001 to June-August 2001. Even though unemployment grew in the year to June-August 2001, it should be noted that employment growth in the same period was faster than that experienced in the year to March-May 2001.
Employment grew by 48,700 year-on-year to June-August 2001 compared with growth of 45,800 in the year to the previous quarter, March-May 2001, indicating that the slowdown in economic activity had not led to any significant deterioration in employment performance to mid-year. In comparison with international developments, Irish employment growth was strong to mid-year.